Page 21 - Fall 2017 english

and interact online. It is how people consume, communicate, share, socialize, and organize. This is not an emerging trend; it is how things are done. The following are some statistics about how people use their smartphones:
• People spend over 5 hours a day on their smartphones.
• 4 hours and 45 minutes is spent on apps.
• 4 out of 5 people use their smartphone to check email.
• 7 out of 10 people delete emails immediately if they don’t
look good on their phone.
People use their phones for common tasks like reading emails, finding businesses, using websites, and coordinating activities. These numbers have been increasing every year and will continue to increase for the foreseeable future.
Imagine two stores side-by-side, both selling beer in the summertime. One of the stores has a bright flashing sign in the window advertising “Ice Cold Beer.” When you go inside, it’s easy to find what you want.
The store beside it has no sign at all, the front door is broken, making it hard to get inside, and if you do get in, it’s hard to find what you want. This is the difference between thinking and being mobile and doing things the old way. If your site’s buttons and text are too small, or if your
website is not available on mobile, you are giving your business away to your mobile-savvy neighbour.
Customer behaviour tells us that mobile is more and more important each day. To earn more business, get more customers, and make more money, businesses must think and be mobile. This is called Mobile Optimization.
MOBILE OPTIMIZATION
Google knows that a good mobile experience is vital and they punish websites that are not optimized for mobile. This is called “mobile first index.” If a golfer searches Google for something like “golf courses in Hamilton,” websites that offer a better mobile experience will get priority in the results. Websites that aren’t optimized for mobile risk being skipped altogether.
I have completed all 10 online courses in the Golf Course Operations Online program. The information has not only reinforced existing
practices at our Club but has also introduced new ideas and helped us move
forward in a positive direction.
JULIE KNOBLOCH, GENERAL MANAGER, VERNON GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB, VERNON, BC
Golf Club Operations
ONLINE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
100% Online Golf Management courses from
Selkirk College improve career advancement potential and boost staff performance in critical areas. More than 300 club managers have completed courses over the past eight semesters.
* Courses run Nov. 1, 2017 – Jan. 31, 2018 and Feb. 1, 2018 – April 30, 2018
COURSES INCLUDE
GCOOL 102 Overview of Golf Operations GCOOL 103 Food & Beverage Controls GCOOL 105 Golf Shop Operations GCOOL 106 Golf Club Marketing
GCOOL 107 Turfgrass Management
GCOOL 108 Human Resources for Golf Clubs GCOOL 109 Leadership for Golf Clubs
GCOOL 110 Tournament & Special Event Planning GCOOL 111 Accounting for Club Operations Part 1 GCOOL 112 Accounting for Club Operations Part 2
For more information visit selkirk.ca/program/golf
Golf Business Canada 21
Photo: ralphie.ca